STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- What's the impression drawn from the Woodbridge Cheesecake Factory and Iselin's Jose Tejas? Overall, yet recognizing the distinctness of each operation, The Cheesecake Factory in Woodbridge seemed more slick with an overall better hospitality package than Tejas. Here are some things we liked and disliked about the establishments:

5 things we liked

1.) The theme

From the architecture and landscaping to the food and drink, the restaurants stuck with the concept rather seamlessly — eclectic at Cheesecake, Tex-Mex/Creole at Tejas. They both proved to be fun and festive places, immersing the customer in an upbeat, wholesome environment. Although with uniforms in the concept, this was not the case at Jose Tejas. Service staff wear white, utilitarian chef coats that didn't appear to either go with the relaxed theme — Is there some Mexican/Cajun-in-the-kitchen line of thought we should be considering here?

2.) The music

At Cheesecake, depending on the time of day, music takes on a different tone and tempo. One late afternoon, for instance, it was mature, soothing music from Antonio Carlos Jobim and other mellow tunes. At Tejas, lively Tex-Mex/pop music is broadcast outside so you're getting into the party feel from the time you step out of the car to the moment that first Margarita passes your lips.

3.) The parking

There was lots and lots of that, no pun intended.

4.) The professionalism

Gotta love the management's appropriately-timed table checks, the predictable greeting from a well-trained staff, the companies' spunky, updated Web sites and business operating times that are exactly as promised. There was an overall respect for the customer in both restaurants — including consideration of families and younger patrons. Most important, there was a general a sense that employees' performances were continually monitored with lots of supervision and hands-on, ever-present management.

5.) The consistency

Cheesecake has its own research department dedicated to scientifically designed drinks and well-developed specials, so (ideally) what you see is what you get in garnishes, booze proportions and food promotions throughout the chain. (It's a great way of satisfying the patron and at the same time stabilizing food costs.) Dishes at both places — Tejas' Sizzling Chicken Fajitas, Gumbo and Seafood Quesadillas as well as Cheesecake's Fried Mac 'n' Cheese Balls, Moroccan Chicken, Skinny Mojito, S'mores Cheesecake with house-made marshmallows plus assorted baked goods made from scratch on the premises.

In the case of Tejas where the dining room at lunch one weekday afternoon turned over twice in about an hour, it seemed like a numbers game to get-'em-in, get-'em-out (i.e. servers delivered multiple tables' food orders so as only to make one trip to the kitchen/bar, food came to the table literally within minutes of ordering, courses came on top of each other, etc.) But, God bless: Those servers certainly are busy.

2.) The toll

At $11 to $13 a passenger car, it's a cringe-worthy amount to pay for destination dining.

3.) The salt

In both restaurants, food was highly seasoned and, frankly, delicious due to that umami-added level. But at Tejas, that meant the items bordered on being heavy-handed on the brine, leaving a patron craving mucho hydration well after the meal.

4.) The calories

It's easy to overindulge and over-beverage as portions on food and drink are mammoth. (No calorie counters are required in The Garden State.) But the volume of food is part of the allure, considered to be a great value to some patrons.